Press Releases

The House today approved, 231-180, a Continuing Resolution to reopen the Department of Homeland Security through February 28 and ensure that Homeland Security employees receive back pay. It complements a package of six appropriations bills reflecting bipartisan House-Senate conference agreements that passed the House yesterday.

This continuing resolution would ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is open and its public servants, including Secret Service agents, transportation security officers, border patrol and customs officers, and the brave men and women of the Coast Guard, are paid for their hard work.

Mr. Speaker, there are only two approaches to take: Either we reopen the department, and the rest of the federal government, without conditions; or we continue to use federal workers, and everyone who depends on them, as bargaining chips in funding negotiations. It seems to me the choice is straightforward.

The House today approved, 234-180, a new bipartisan package to reopen the government. The legislation, H.R. 648, reflects bipartisan House-Senate conference agreements negotiated by Republican and Democratic appropriators in both chambers last year. It includes $1.6 billion for border security-related initiatives.

Just this morning, President Trump’s chief economic adviser warned that the shutdown could lead to zero economic growth this quarter. The solution is simple: reopen the government, pay our federal employees, and then negotiate border security and immigration policy proposals that can command bipartisan support.

Democrats are bringing forward six conference reports negotiated last December when Republicans controlled the House, Senate, and the White House. If members of the Republican Party are serious about governing with us for the betterment of all Americans, then they should vote for these six conference reports and reopen the agencies covered by those bills.

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman-designate Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) today released legislation to end the Trump Shutdown and reopen the Department of Homeland Security through February 28. The legislation is expected to be considered in the House this week.

“On Day 29 of the Trump Shutdown, the solution is simple: reopen the government, pay our federal employees, and then negotiate border security and immigration policy proposals that can command bipartisan support.”